Composition of Butadiene-Styrene Copolymers by Gel Permeation Chromatography

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Abstract
An ultraviolet detector was added to the GPC making it possible to determine both molecular weight distribution and composition of butadiene-styrene copolymers as a function of molecular weight. After calibration, several types of commercial and experimental copolymers were analyzed. SBR was found to have a very uniform composition over most of the range of molecular weight. However, the styrene content decreased at the high end of the distribution. Representative samples of anionically polymerized copolymers were also examined. In general, the composition of these polymers varied more than SBR. Usually, the styrene content was high at low molecular weight and decreased as molecular weight increased. Several experimental copolymers that were first metalated and then grafted with styrene were studied. Incomplete grafting as well as the presence of low molecular weight homopolystyrene was readily detected. This appears to be a particularly sensitive method for studying composition of copolymers.

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